Bank Cashier Ordered to Repay Over £12,000 for Stealing from Elderly Customers

A building society cashier has been ordered to repay more than £12,000 after stealing at least £8,605 from vulnerable and elderly customers to finance extravagant holidays. Kelly Kershaw, 54, admitted to five counts of fraud.

Colleagues became suspicious after seeing photos on Kershaw's Facebook page depicting her on trips to Africa, Paris, Tuscany, and Dubai. She had systematically stolen from customers over an 11-month period, targeting individuals she described as "easy targets who wouldn't notice the money going from their accounts."

Among her victims was an 85-year-old man with diminished cognitive abilities due to a stroke, from whom Kershaw stole £6,300. In one instance, she logged a £200 withdrawal as £500 and kept the difference. Another victim, a 49-year-old man with learning difficulties, lost £1,400. This individual had previously been a victim of fraud and kept his bank card at the branch for safekeeping.

Kershaw also forged the signature of a man with learning disabilities. The building society reimbursed customers a total of £12,630.

In May, Kershaw was sentenced to 16 months in prison. She subsequently appeared at Caernarfon Crown Court for a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing. The court determined she had benefited £13,333.26 from her crimes and possessed £12,630 in assets.

Judge Nicola Jones ordered Kershaw to repay the £12,630 within three months, or face an additional five months in prison. Kershaw's defense attorney stated she was suffering from a "compulsive spending addiction" at the time and expressed remorse for her actions.

During sentencing in May, Judge Timothy Petts emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence to prevent other cashiers from engaging in similar behavior. He noted Kershaw's repeated pattern of offending, including forging signatures and withholding portions of customer withdrawals. Her actions only came to light when suspicions were raised regarding her lifestyle.